Worst coached game in BB's Patriots tenure?

[jgpatriot]

I'm not a homer, and I'm not playing one at the moment. I simply understand that there is a difference between ALTERNATE strategy and tactics, and WRONG strategy and tactics.

If Dungy, Mangini, Herm Edwards, Norv Turner, or any other NFL coaches used these "alternate" strategies, this board would be full of laughter. Still, I would NOT trade BB for any other coach.

It is all semantic, we both disagreed with BB's decisions or "did not preferred his alternate strategies".

Hopefully, BB and the team let this game go quickly and focus on winning a crucial AFCE game.

 

[JMarr]

3rd and 12 a running play and settle for a field goal??? awful game for belichick

I liked the gameplan overall, but this call was inconceivable. Other posters have said "the draw had been working all nite," "the safeties were playing back," "a running play was smart to burn clock and give Manning less time" etc.

All these excuses are lame. You HAVE to try for a 1st down in that situation, otherwise you're basically conceding defeat. That play is pure Herm Edwards style coaching--an absolutely horrid call.

How about a 10 yard hook to Moss and, God forbid, have him try to muscle for2 yards after the catch?

 

[Deus Irae]

I liked the gameplan overall, but this call was inconceivable. Other posters have said "the draw had been working all nite," "the safeties were playing back," "a running play was smart to burn clock and give Manning less time" etc.

All these excuses are lame. You HAVE to try for a 1st down in that situation, otherwise you're basically conceding defeat. That play is pure Herm Edwards style coaching--an absolutely horrid call.

How about a 10 yard hook to Moss and, God forbid, have him try to muscle for2 yards after the catch?

How many times did the team find success with draw plays, and how many were gains of 5 or more yards?

 

[Lifer]

I think we should run Bill Belichick out of town. Hes obviously an incompetant boob.
Not nearly as smart as the people on Patsfans.com

 

[JMarr]

How many times did the team find success with draw plays, and how many were gains of 5 or more yards?

There was no chance with a run in that situation and you know it. They we're settling for a FG and burning some clock as you have said.

Obviously if you have TB the situation is different. But even with Cassel you have a decent chance of picking up a 1st, and a very good chance of at least setting up 4th and short with a safe pass.

That was the only really questionable call by McD. Simple as that.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Let me put this gently.

You need to realize that those are NOT the basic tenets of football, and they are NOT the basic tenets of Bill Belichick football.

Also, you're wrong on the challenge when you call it minimal, since the difference was 2nd and 10 vs. 1st and 5 in a possession style of game.

There was more to the challenge call that makes it far from minimal. It was 2nd and 9 versus 1st and 5 but the risk reward you have to balance it against is losing a challenge and a second half TO. That went on to haunt them. I had no problem with the 2 point conversion, but if your going to go for it then go for 4th and 1 from the 7 and don't put yourself in a position where 1.) you can't challenge the ruling on the conversion for fear of losing your remaining challenge, then 2.) turtle on the 4th and 1 and burn your last TO anyway 3.) only to have a down by contact fumble ruling and 4.) spot ruling on the play that preceded the Thomas penalty and challenge opportunities present themself when you've been out of options since 4 and a half minutes into the 4th quarter so there isn't a thing you can do about it in a game you figured would come down to the last posession or a play or two.

 

[pats1]

Good gameplanning, pretty bad game management.

It happens. Just gotta move on. I can assure you BB wasn't happy with his performance last night, and I'm sure it will get better.

 

[JoePats]

Racking my brain, I am having difficulty coming up with a worse one...

(1) The bad challenge on the 12 men on the field call. Either thinking that the actual 12th man got off, or for thinking that the 11th man running off was actually the 12th man... just terrible.

(2) Burning the final timeout. In retrospect, the play WORKED. Cassel got the first down, but there needed to be some understanding that, if the play wasn't there, Cassel needed to take the Delay of Game penalty, and and have Ghost try a 30 yarder. That timeout is too valuable (primarily for challenge purposes). Case in point, there was a play that NBC glossed over where it was pretty clear Dallas Clark fumbled. It was also pretty clear that there was clear recovery by a Patriot (a "play through the whistle type deal"). But, no timeout = no challenge.

(3) The 3rd and 16 shovel pass to Faulk. Obviously, this one is on McDaniels (who I thought called a great game, except for this play). But you're playing a small, fast Colts defense. You're finally getting some mid-range pass plays underneath. Why, in the name of all that's holy, not try to pick up 8-10 yards there, either to (a) set up a manageable 4th down, or (b) get Ghost a 53-54 yard game-tying field goal attempt.

(4) The 2-point conversion... pure panic on BB's part. Midway through the third, you don't chase points, period. Baffling...

(5) Why is Deltha O'Neal playing 10 yards off his receiver when a first down all but ends the game?? Not sure if that was by defensive design or not... but goodness...

A mind-numbingly frustrating loss. This makes it VERY difficult to win a Wild Card birth (a bad 3-3 conference record, with tie-breaking losses to the Colts and Chargers). Certainly this isn't a devastating loss for the season... but man does it complicate things....

It probably was the worst coached game of his tenure, but it's not the end of the world. It wasn't a division game like we have coming up, and mostly, he's entitled to a bad night. He's had a few good ones.

1. The premise of the challenge is a good one, but since all you're doing is counting people, it's not one you should lose under any cirumstances.

2. Would have liked to go for it there. Play for the win on the road, plus we were running the ball pretty well. But it was a yard not an inch. So I understand taking the tie there. Still would have been in good position if not for the stupid Thomas penalty.

3. They did try to pick up 8-10 with that play to try a long field goal. That's something they are comfortable running. 3rd and 16 is a tough spot though. Tough call.

4. Agree, way too early.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

There was no chance with a run in that situation and you know it. They we're settling for a FG and burning some clock as you have said.

Obviously if you have TB the situation is different. But even with Cassel you have a decent chance of picking up a 1st, and a very good chance of at least setting up 4th and short with a safe pass.

Nothing wrong with playing for better position to kick the field goal, they knew they would get the ball back and were driving the ball and eating up clock, it actually worked out great if not for the Thomas penalty. Getting a first down there is low percentage and theres always a risk of an interception, I have no problem with that play.

I dont understand the ones berating BB for going for 2, the way they were pushing the Dline around it was a high percentage play and the score called for it.

I blame whoever is upstairs for the too many men on the field challenge, I understand they dont have much time but you have to be sure.

You cant criticize the coaching for being to conservative then turn around and criticize them for not being conservative enough.

That said I liked them going for it on 4th down and think BB should have went with the play and not called a TO, he must have saw something he didnt like to change his mind.

Overall we should have won if we played a cleaner game, the game plan worked and Cassel ran it well. The coachs put them into a position to win and they didnt execute.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

BB did a terrible job in game management. I don't see how anybody can deny that. The game plan was pretty good though.

But....except for a few errors by the refs (no calls on the picks, holding) and a dropped TD pass.....we still win the game.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Worst? Come on. It's not even the worst coached game this year. The Miami and San Diego games where no semblance of needed defensive adjustments were done easily beat last night for the title of "worst coached game".

Regards,
Chris

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

BB was Herm Edwards in disguise last night

 

[Lifer]

BB was Herm Edwards in disguise last night

"Stupid Boston fans. STUPID!!"

- Mo Vaughn

 

[Bill 4 Prez]

Racking my brain, I am having difficulty coming up with a worse one...

(1) The bad challenge on the 12 men on the field call. Either thinking that the actual 12th man got off, or for thinking that the 11th man running off was actually the 12th man... just terrible.

(2) Burning the final timeout. In retrospect, the play WORKED. Cassel got the first down, but there needed to be some understanding that, if the play wasn't there, Cassel needed to take the Delay of Game penalty, and and have Ghost try a 30 yarder. That timeout is too valuable (primarily for challenge purposes). Case in point, there was a play that NBC glossed over where it was pretty clear Dallas Clark fumbled. It was also pretty clear that there was clear recovery by a Patriot (a "play through the whistle type deal"). But, no timeout = no challenge.

(3) The 3rd and 16 shovel pass to Faulk. Obviously, this one is on McDaniels (who I thought called a great game, except for this play). But you're playing a small, fast Colts defense. You're finally getting some mid-range pass plays underneath. Why, in the name of all that's holy, not try to pick up 8-10 yards there, either to (a) set up a manageable 4th down, or (b) get Ghost a 53-54 yard game-tying field goal attempt.

(4) The 2-point conversion... pure panic on BB's part. Midway through the third, you don't chase points, period. Baffling...

(5) Why is Deltha O'Neal playing 10 yards off his receiver when a first down all but ends the game?? Not sure if that was by defensive design or not... but goodness...

A mind-numbingly frustrating loss. This makes it VERY difficult to win a Wild Card birth (a bad 3-3 conference record, with tie-breaking losses to the Colts and Chargers). Certainly this isn't a devastating loss for the season... but man does it complicate things....

Obviously you are frustrated, but none of what you said is warranted, you can find mistakes in every single game. RELAX, you need to be slapped in the face and brought back to reality, which was they looked solid last night, this isn't 2007, its 2008; it's a different team, this post made me sick the way you question these things. Where are you every week, I don't see you complaining about crap like this every game, you're clearly just upset we lost. I was there and I was pissed, but its one mother****ing game

 

[AzPatsFan]

Racking my brain, I am having difficulty coming up with a worse one...

(1) The bad challenge on the 12 men on the field call. Either thinking that the actual 12th man got off, or for thinking that the 11th man running off was actually the 12th man... just terrible.

(2) Burning the final timeout. In retrospect, the play WORKED. Cassel got the first down, but there needed to be some understanding that, if the play wasn't there, Cassel needed to take the Delay of Game penalty, and and have Ghost try a 30 yarder. That timeout is too valuable (primarily for challenge purposes). Case in point, there was a play that NBC glossed over where it was pretty clear Dallas Clark fumbled. It was also pretty clear that there was clear recovery by a Patriot (a "play through the whistle type deal"). But, no timeout = no challenge.

(3) The 3rd and 16 shovel pass to Faulk. Obviously, this one is on McDaniels (who I thought called a great game, except for this play). But you're playing a small, fast Colts defense. You're finally getting some mid-range pass plays underneath. Why, in the name of all that's holy, not try to pick up 8-10 yards there, either to (a) set up a manageable 4th down, or (b) get Ghost a 53-54 yard game-tying field goal attempt.

(4) The 2-point conversion... pure panic on BB's part. Midway through the third, you don't chase points, period. Baffling...

(5) Why is Deltha O'Neal playing 10 yards off his receiver when a first down all but ends the game?? Not sure if that was by defensive design or not... but goodness...

A mind-numbingly frustrating loss. This makes it VERY difficult to win a Wild Card birth (a bad 3-3 conference record, with tie-breaking losses to the Colts and Chargers). Certainly this isn't a devastating loss for the season... but man does it complicate things....

Not even close.

BB has ahd some stinkers and even one this year. Joe Saprano sprung the
Single Wing on him and he was totally unable to coach his team into handling it. That was a caoching dsiaster. In this game, game plan was masterful.

 

[captain stone]

Obviously you are frustrated, but none of what you said is warranted, you can find mistakes in every single game. RELAX, you need to be slapped in the face and brought back to reality, which was they looked solid last night, this isn't 2007, its 2008; it's a different team, this post made me sick the way you question these things. Where are you every week, I don't see you complaining about crap like this every game, you're clearly just upset we lost. I was there and I was pissed, but its one mother****ing game

Why should this post make you sick? What you should be sick about is BB's Spermie Edwardsesque game management, and a couple of poorly-timed head-scratchers in a generally otherwise decent game-plan from McD. Settling for FGs 3 out of 4 times vs. even this edition of the dolts is simply unacceptable.